New Madrid – Abu Dhabi service

UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways and Spanish airline Air Europa have signed a codeshare agreement which will see both carriers significantly enhance access to and from Spain, the UAE and to destinations across globe.

Under the terms of
the agreement and subject to regulatory approvals, Air Europa plans to commence
a three times a week direct service between Madrid and Abu Dhabi in late 2014.

Etihad Airways will place
its EY flight code on the new Airbus A330 operated flights, offering direct
access to Madrid for the very first time through its global Abu Dhabi hub.

The two airlines will
work together in the run up to the route launch, with Etihad Airways initially
placing its code on Air Europa-operated flights to Madrid from Amsterdam,
Brussels and Milan Malpensa and beyond Madrid to Barcelona and Palma de
Mallorca.

In return, Air Europa
will place its UX flight code on Etihad Airways flights from Amsterdam,
Brussels and Milan Malpensa to Abu Dhabi.

Furthermore, during
summer 2014, both airlines plan to expand the number of codeshare destinations
to include new cities in Spain and South America via Madrid, and more cities
beyond Abu Dhabi across the Gulf region, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Etihad Airways’
President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said: “The fact that Air Europa has chosen Abu
Dhabi for the next wave of its international expansion, speaks volumes of what
the emirate and our global hub have to offer.

“We have been keen to
offer our customers direct access to the Spanish capital for a number of years,
and doing this now in partnership with Air Europa makes perfect business sense. It is the right thing to do.

“The new route will
support the growing trade volumes between the UAE and Spain, up 75 per cent
over the last three years, introduce more Spanish business and leisure
travellers to the world class city that is Abu Dhabi, not to mention, make
access to Abu Dhabi, Madrid and numerous destinations across our combined
networks easier than ever.”

Juan
José Hidalgo, Air Europa’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “We have chosen Abu Dhabi and
Etihad Airways as the gateway to India, China, Australia and other destinations
served in the Far East.

“As
one of the most important operators to the American continent, especially Central
and South America via our hub in Madrid, for Air Europa the agreement between
the two airlines is a step forward in a global market.

“Both
airlines will provide an excellent link between America and Asia via Madrid and
Abu Dhabi.”

All of the codeshare operations announced today will
be implemented once regulatory approvals are received and the launch date of
the new Madrid-Abu Dhabi service will be confirmed in the coming weeks.